A brand new Fellrunner bus takes to the road in the Eden Valley next week.
The new £55,000, 16-seater Iveco bus will be launched at Gamblesby Village Hall at 12.30 on Monday, June 16th.
The Fellrunner Committee, volunteer drivers and Philip Chappelhow, Chairman of Eden Local Committee will be on-hand to welcome the new bus into the Fellrunner Fleet. All media are welcome to attend.
The new bus will join two existing Fellrunners providing community based public transport in Eden.
The cash to buy the new addition came from £25,000 from Cumbria County Council’s and Cumbria Vision's Cumbria Rural Infrastructure Support Project (CRISP) and a £14,000 contribution from the Department for Transport's Rural Bus Challenge. The remaining funding has been provided by the Fellrunner organisation itself.
Fellrunner has been serving 42 Eden Valley villages from Armathwaite to Milburn along the Eden valley and Fellside and Crosby Ravensworth and the Lyvennet valley for more than 28 years.
Run by a dedicated group of 25 volunteers, the registered charity provides services on twelve different routes six days a week, providing a lifeline for the community.
The Fellrunner buses are available for local community groups to hire for various outings and the organisations also runs guided tours for visitors and residents.
Fellrunner's running costs are covered entirely by the voluntary effort, but the buses do need to be replaced regularly so they can run smoothly and safely.
Philip Chappelhow, chairman of Cumbria County Council’s local committee for Eden, said: "Fellrunner has been doing a great job for the people of Eden Valley for many years now. For me it is the best community rural transport initiative anywhere in the country. The Eden local committee has, over many years provided financial support for Fellrunner, but buying new vehicles is an expensive business. It is great the county council’s CRISP scheme and the Rural Bus Challenge money has helped pay for this brand new bus."
Jill Hay, Chairperson of Fellrunner Village Bus Ltd said: "Fellrunner are very grateful to the organisations who have provided funding to enable this replacement vehicle to be purchased. Many of our passengers are not able to drive and would feel very isolated in this rural area if it were not for the Fellrunner service. Thanks must go to all the volunteers involved in the Fellrunner both drivers and those who are involved behind the scenes without which the service could not be provided.
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For more information visit http://www.fellrunnerbus.co.uk/ (external link) Fellrunner always needs volunteer drivers who receive full driver training from a qualified trainer. Volunteers are also needed to and help with all the administration required in running community transport. For more information on how to become a volunteer contact Caroline Watson on 01228 226725.
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Justin Hawkins, Media Officer on 01228 226334